Mac Office 2011 Update 14.2.4: "Error encountered installation failed".

Anonymous
2012-09-20T03:41:05+00:00

I have tried installing the latest update of Mac Office 2011 which is version 14.2.4, however, at the end of the installation I get a message "error encountered installation failed".

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Anonymous
2012-09-27T23:51:01+00:00

Hi everyone!

Thanks to everyone who sent installation logs for this issue.  There are two separate 14.2.4 installation issues that have shown up in this thread.

The first issue (and most common in this thread) stems from re-installing on top of existing installations. In general, don’t do this. Re-installing on top of existing installations can re-introduce files that should not be present. If you need to re-install, please be sure to remove Office 2011 as described on the following links:

Video | Uninstall Office 2011

Step-by-Step Instructions | How to completely remove Office for Mac 2011

One workaround for the 14.2.4 update that has helped some users is to temporarily move or rename the /Library/Automator folder. You can do this by following the steps below:

  1. With Finderopen, choose Go > Go to Folder...
  2. Type in the following path and then click Go:

/Library 3. Find the Automator folder, select it, and then click the name of the folder again to Rename the folder. Name the folder Automator_OldNote: OS X may prompt you for your password. This is normal. 4. Attempt to install the 14.2.4 update again. 5. If the update installs correctly, rename the Automator_Old folder back to its original name: Automator

If that solution does not work and you know you have re-installed Office 2011 on top of an existing Office 2011 installation, you’ll need to remove Office 2011 properly and re-install. 

The second issue was some users changed the size of the /tmp/ directory on their machine which was too small for the update to fully install. Re-sizing the /tmp/ directory resolved the install issue for these users.

If you're still experiencing issues installing the 14.2.4 update, please create your own thread by choosing **Ask a question...**at the top of this page. Be sure to include details about which solutions you've already tried.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-09-26T18:30:39+00:00

    Did you do the step where you rename the Automator folder in the main Library and move it to the Desktop?

    If yes, and it failed, you'll need to reinstall.

    Install Steps

    1)  Drag the Microsoft Office 2011 folder in Applications to the trash.

    Or

    2)  To delete all Microsoft files, run this script.  Remove Office 2011 Uninstaller.pkg

      More info

    This does not delete your preferences or your data in the Microsoft User Data folder in Documents.

    Run Repair Permissions

    To use Repair Permissions:

    1. Open Disk Utility in your Applications/Utility folder.
    2. Click on the First Aid tab and select Repair Permissions
    3. Click on the icon for your boot volume.
    4. Click the repair permissions button.

    Install Office. You can download the trial to start with 14.2.0. but IMMEDIATELY upgrade before opening Outlook.

        •    Restart after installing trial (see basics)

        •    Update to 14.2.3 < this file contains upgrade for GateKeeper.

        •    Restart

        •    Update to 14.2.4

        •    Restart

    Install Basics

    Not only should Safari be quit but all browsers and hidden Microsoft processes like the Microsoft Database daemon and SyncServicesAgent.

    Note for the MAU updater and the MERP updater you do NOT have to restart after updating.

        •    Log out under the Apple in the Menu bar

        •    Log in and hold down the Shift key (this disables all startup items including the hidden ones)

    Use the Microsoft Autoupdater (MAU) to update Office 2011

    • Open any Office application and select "Check for Updates" under Help in the Menu bar. Once MAU is launched, select "Keep in Dock"
    • Log out/in as described above.
    • Select the MAU in the Dock and download the updater.
    • After it downloads, quit the MAU then install. Leave in Dock until there are no more updaters.
    • RESTART
    • Repeat until there are no more updaters.

    If successful, run Repair Permissions once more.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-09-26T17:49:46+00:00

    Same problems.

    1.  Version 14.2.4 (120616) 2.  Latest installed Update 14.2.3
    2.  OSX 10.8.2, installed around 9/2212
    3.  IMac (2 months old)
    4.  Weird toolbar icons; formatting toolbar gone
    5.  Safe start failed.

    Identical problems on MacAir 15" (3 months old).

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-09-26T13:06:32+00:00

    Hi Scott,

    I removed the automator as you suggested, but it did not work. The log seems to have similar content to what you report, but removing the Automator folder did not work. I had to reinstall Office 2011 from scratch last week, because PP kept on freezing when launched. I subsequently installed all the available updates. Today the automatic update software warned me of the 14.2.4. As I  proceeded to installation the problem started. The Office software seems to work, but the toolbars looks weird.

    The log looks like this:

    Sep 26 15:04:04 Macintosh-7 installd[2144]: PackageKit: ----- Begin install -----

    Sep 26 15:04:54 Macintosh-7 installd[2144]: *** process 2144 exceeded 500 log message per second limit  -  remaining messages this second discarded ***

    Sep 26 15:04:55 Macintosh-7 installd[2144]: *** process 2144 exceeded 500 log message per second limit  -  remaining messages this second discarded ***

    Sep 26 15:05:19 Macintosh-7 installd[2144]: PackageKit: Install Failed: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=112 "An error occurred while running scripts from the package “Office 2011 14.2.4 Update”." UserInfo=0x7fd3534e7620 {NSFilePath=./postinstall, NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Microsoft%20Office%202011%2014.2.4%20Update/Office%202011%2014.2.4%20Update.pkg#Office2011_all_automator_14.2.4.combo.pkg, PKInstallPackageIdentifier=com.microsoft.office.all.automator.pkg.14.2.4.update, NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred while running scripts from the package “Office 2011 14.2.4 Update”.} {

    NSFilePath = "./postinstall";

    NSLocalizedDescription = "An error occurred while running scripts from the package \U201cOffice 2011 14.2.4 Update\U201d.";

    NSURL = "file://localhost/Volumes/Microsoft%20Office%202011%2014.2.4%20Update/Office%202011%2014.2.4%20Update.pkg#Office2011_all_automator_14.2.4.combo.pkg";

    PKInstallPackageIdentifier = "com.microsoft.office.all.automator.pkg.14.2.4.update";

    }

    Sep 26 15:05:19 Macintosh-7 Installer[2137]: Install failed: The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.

    Sep 26 15:05:19 Macintosh-7 Installer[2137]: Displaying 'Install Failed' UI.

    Sep 26 15:05:19 Macintosh-7 Installer[2137]: 'Install Failed' UI displayed message:'The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.'.

    Thank you in advance for any help

    Paolo

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-09-26T06:55:16+00:00

    Scott,

    Having trouble with the update...how do I send you my installer log?

    Kurt

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